This is NOT an official blog site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The ideas that are shared here do not necessarily represent the policies or procedures of the church. It is a format for stake and ward communications specialists to receive training, share ideas and make recommendations. Communication should be of an appropiate nature. It is hopeful that in the very near future, an official site will be made available on the church's website.

Monday, August 27, 2007

This is truly a great resource for all of involved in Ward and Stake Emergency Communications. By way of introduction, my name is Mark Kelley. I'm the Stake Emergency Communications Specialist for the Parker Colorado Stake. We held our very first ham net in the history of our Stake, on January 7th of this year. From the time of our first net, we have also worked together with the Castle Rock Colorado Stake. They could only identify 3 licensed hams in their Stake at the time and it seemed logical that we work together. As both Parker and Castle Rock Stakes are geographically challenged, we were able to secure an agreement with the Castle Rock Repeater Group which is a wide coverage repeater. We hold our weekly nets there on 146.67Mhz and have permission to operate there and on 145.400Mhz.

I taught my first Technician's Class licensing course in May of 2006, before I was ever called to this position. Out of that class we licensed four new hams within our Stake. I was called to my Stake position in November. At that time we were able to identify 13 hams within our Stake boundaries, plus the 4 new additions from the class. We were able to sponsor another class in May of this year. From this class we saw 12 new hams created in our Stake, another 6 hams in the Castle Rock Stake and had a non-member get his license as well. Michael Poor, KBØQKY, Stake Emergency Communications Specialist from the Castle Rock Stake are co-teaching yet another class for our two Stakes. He's got another 12 new Technician's Class candidates and the Parker Stake has another 2. The Highlands Ranch Stake has also joined in on the fun and should end up with 3 new hams in their Stake. Since that time, we've seen some move-ins and have identified a few more whose addresses had not been changed on their licenses to reflect their location within our Stake Boundaries. It's certainly easy enough to scrub the Stake Directory against the FCC ULS database.

We have our weekly nets. We've had one communications exercise so far this year. We were able to determine that, minus the 146.67 and 145.400 repeaters we're currently using, we can cover the Parker Stake via crossband repeater, strategically located from the home of David (Stake Preparedness Specialist/KCØKCE). One of the local ARES groups has primary priviledges on 146.67. We're exploring coverage on 145.400 which may or may not cover our entire Stake. Without repeater coverage, communication via simplex is challenging to a couple of parts of our Stake due to geography.

Getting the program up and running in our wards has been challenging. We still don't have specialists called in all the wards. We actually have Communications Specialists called in only about half.

We are proceeding with the wards which are ready to launch the program which David Lowe posted for our Stake, which calls for dividing our Stake into blocks, heading by Block Captains. Communication with perspective members will occur using both Ham Radio VHF/UHF and FRS radios. I'll let everybody know of struggles and challenges as we move forward. We've seen the Westminster Stake successfully use the same type of program which we're implementing for the Parker Stake and am confident, that with persistence and hard work, we can make the program successful. Our goal is to be able to report the status of every member living within our Stake during an emergency event and to be able to have a priesthood conduit to assist non-members as well, living within our Stake boundaries.

We are now having regular monthly Face-to-Face meetings, alternating between Parker and Castle Rock Stakes. Our last one was a simple antenna party where we built J-Pole antennas for use by those who are challenged with HTs with a simple Rubber Duck antenna. Our meeting in September will involve more training in simple net and emergency communications operations.

Should anybody have questions of our group, we're ready to help that way. We would certainly like to establish a dialogue with other Stakes Emcomm Specialists and learn from your successes as we grow and expand our efforts.

Friday, August 24, 2007

There is currently available, some valuable information on the church's website on emergency preparedness and communications. To access this information, go to the following website and click on the following topics. www.providentliving.org

1-Helps for church leaders2-Explore a welfare topic3-Prepare for emergencies

There you will find information on church preparedness, emergency communications, emergency response, guidelines for church response, and written emergency plans.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

From some time in 2000 until 2006 we ran flyers weekly one year on one year off on preparedness topics. If anyone would like I could start by posting a Table of Contents and possibly make them available. Some have copyrights and we would have to honor those. I could include simple instructions on using them and some thoughts on how effective or not they may have been here in Colorado.

I do want to thank those who have finally made this resource available.Eric FreundParker, CO

Here is a copy of the Ward and Stake ERP Plans we are using in the Parker Colorado Stake. Please feel free to just change the pertinent information and use them as your own. Just copy and paste into your own word document.

· Be aware of severe weather forecasts: If severe weather is being forecast for your area, LISTEN TO OR WATCH THE NEWS. During these times, look for updates 2-3 times a day.· Listen for severe weather warnings: 1. Keep the radio or TV tuned to a news channel during severe weather days. 2. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio. Weather alert radios can provide immediate notification of severe weather or other emergencies by activating a tone when a watch or warning is issued by the National Weather Service.

· Prepare for severe weather before it strikes: Some severe storms can be seen approaching, while others hit without warning. It is important to learn and recognize danger signs and plan ahead.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Severe Weather.

2. Assignment of priesthood and Relief Society responsibilities during a response.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Priesthood and Relief Society responsibilities.

3. Maps, addresses, and contact information for Church members.

· See the current copy of the Stake Membership Directory. Ward Membership Clerk will update this ERP on a Quarterly basis. See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Maps, Addresses and Member Contact Information.

· Each ward will need to also account for the following: ALL Missionaries living within the Ward Boundaries ALL members of Singles Wards living within the Ward Boundaries Special note should be made of members visiting Friends and Relatives during an emergency

4. The procedure for immediately accounting for missionaries and Church members following a disaster.

· After the Stake President (See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Priesthood Lines of Authority) has activated the Stake Emergency Communication System by notifying the Stake Communications Specialist or the Stake Emergency Preparedness Specialist the Ward will begin contacting its members through the Ward Communications Network.

· The Ward Communications Specialist will activate the Ward Emergency Communications Net. (In the event the Stake President chooses NOT to activate the Stake Emergency Communications Hams Net, all communications will be conducted by phone via Priesthood Lines of Authority.)

· Ham Radio Operators assigned to Bishops and Priesthood leaders will contact the priesthood leaders to which they are assigned via telephone, radio (Ham, CB or FRS) or in person to obtain the status of the ward according to the seven bulleted items found in the Church Welfare Resources Handbook, Part 3, Preparing for Emergencies, Leadership and Reporting, Pg 14.

· The Ward Communications Specialist will notify the District Neighborhood Coordinators who will then contact the Neighborhood Block Captains to obtain the status of those members within their Neighbor Block GeoCode.

· The Bishop may choose to activate the Ward Emergency Communications Network as necessary. The ward Communication Specialist should contact the District Neighborhood Coordinators who should contact the Neighborhood Block Captains.

· It must be assumed that individuals who have Emergency Communications Responsibilities as well as families affected by the emergency or disaster will automatically come “On Line” as any disaster or emergency situation arises. This includes monitoring their radios when weather or other community or area alerts are issued.

· Neighborhood Block Captains should receive reports from the families within their individual GeoCode blocks. They should help in coordinating resources within the area of their responsibility. Families are counseled to safeguard their families first then look toward giving aid and assistance to their neighbors.

5. A list of Church members with special needs and how they may be assisted in an emergency.

· This list will be maintained as an appendix item and updated monthly. A copy should be forwarded to the Stake Emergency Preparedness Specialist.

6. How emotional trauma of members might be relieved following a disaster.

· Priesthood leaders in conjunction with the Relief Society, Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers should have lots of empathic engagement with all those victims of an emergency situation, including those who are helping with the emergency as facilitators.

· Leaders should not overidentify with survivors nor take on the survivors feelings as their own. Taking ownership of others’ problems will only serve to compound the stress of facilitators.

· Leaders and facilitators should be alert to signs of trauma in victims as well as themselves so that steps can be taken to alleviate stress.

· It is appropriate for Priesthood leaders to organize special firesides, Family Home Evenings and other meetings as deemed appropriate. Individual priesthood blessings should be administered as appropriate.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Emotional Trauma.

7. Church members who are medically trained, operators of heavy equipment and trained in emergency response procedures who may be useful in disaster response.

· This list will be maintained as an appendix item and updated monthly. A copy should be forwarded to the Stake Emergency Preparedness Specialist.

8. How Ward leaders without regular telephone service will contact the Stake Leaders following a disaster.

· Bishop will contact the Stake Ham Radio Network. See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Radio Frequencies.

9. Contact information for government, the Red Cross, and other agencies active in emergency response.

To notify authorities of an EMERGENCY CALL 911For Emergencies Involving - Public Health, Public Utilities, Electric and Gas Service CALL 911

· Police Department Phone No. ______________

· Fire Department Phone No. ______________

· Town Phone No. ______________

· County Sheriff’s Department Phone No. ______________

· County Emergency Services Phone No. ______________

(NOTE: Stake Emergency Communications Specialist will be in touch with the County Emergency Ham Radio Net during all emergencies.)

· Red Cross Phone No. ______________

· Bishops Storehouse Phone No. ______________

Shelters designated by County in our area are located at:

StakeEmergency Response Plan (ERP)Last Updated - March 2007

1. The disasters likely to occur and probable actions needed to respond to each.

· Be aware of severe weather forecasts: If severe weather is being forecast for your area, LISTEN TO OR WATCH THE NEWS. During these times, look for updates 2-3 times a day.· Listen for severe weather warnings: 1. Keep the radio or TV tuned to a news channel during severe weather days. 2. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio. Weather alert radios can provide immediate notification of severe weather or other emergencies by activating a tone when a watch or warning is issued by the National Weather Service.

· Prepare for severe weather before it strikes: Some severe storms can be seen approaching, while others hit without warning. It is important to learn and recognize danger signs and plan ahead.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Severe Weather.

2. Assignment of priesthood and Relief Society responsibilities during a response.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding priesthood and Relief Society responsibilities.

3. Maps, addresses, and contact information for Church members.

· See the current copy of the Stake Membership Directory. Stake Membership Clerk will update this ERP on a Quarterly basis. See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Maps, Addresses and Member Contact Information.

· Each ward will need to also account for the following: ALL Missionaries living within the Ward Boundaries ALL members of Singles Wards living within the Ward Boundaries Special note should be made of members visiting Friends and Relatives during an emergency

4. The procedure for immediately accounting for missionaries and Church members following a disaster.

· The Stake President (See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Priesthood Lines of Authority) will activate the Stake Emergency Communication System by notifying the Stake Communications Specialist or the Stake Emergency Preparedness Specialist.

· The Stake Communications Specialist will activate the Stake Emergency Communications Hams Net (In the event the Stake President chooses NOT to activate the Stake Emergency Communications Hams Net, all communications will be conducted by phone via Priesthood Lines of Authority.)

· Ham Radio Operators assigned to Bishops and Priesthood leaders will contact the priesthood leaders to which they are assigned via telephone, radio (Ham, CB or FRS) or in person and report the status of the ward according to the seven bulleted items found in the Church Welfare Resources Handbook, Part 3, Preparing for Emergencies, Leadership and Reporting, Pg 14.

5. A list of Church members with special needs and how they may be assisted in an emergency.

· This list will be maintained as an appendix item and updated from Ward ERP’s.

6. How emotional trauma of members might be relieved following a disaster.

· Priesthood leaders in conjunction with the Relief Society, Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers should have lots of empathic engagement with all those victims of an emergency situation, including those who are helping with the emergency as facilitators.

· Leaders should not overidentify with survivors nor take on the survivors feelings as their own. Taking ownership of others’ problems will only serve to compound the stress of facilitators.

· Leaders and facilitators should be alert to signs of trauma in victims as well as themselves so that steps can be taken to alleviate stress.

· It is appropriate for Priesthood leaders to organize special firesides, Family Home Evenings and other meetings as deemed appropriate. Individual priesthood blessings should be administered as appropriate.

· See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Emotional Trauma.

7. Church members who are medically trained, operators of heavy equipment and trained in emergency response procedures who may be useful in disaster response.

· This list will be maintained as an appendix item and updated from Ward ERP’s.

8. How stake leaders without regular telephone service will contact Church headquarters following a disaster.

· Stake President will contact the Bishops’ Storehouse using the Stake Ham Radio Network. See the Appendix for Specific information regarding Radio Frequencies.

9. Contact information for government, the Red Cross, and other agencies active in emergency response.

County Information

To notify authorities of an EMERGENCY CALL 911For Emergencies Involving - Public Health, Public Utilities, Electric and Gas Service CALL 911

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

We invite you to participate in this blog to ask questions for emergency communications, ham radio, satellite phone, and other means of communications. We would like you to share experiences and success stories of how your emergency communication plans are working.

To make this site available to others who would like to participate on this blog, have them email me at one of my email addresses and I will invite them to participate. It will require them to set up a google account.